Tack dispenser



NOV. 8, 1949 A, H, SPADER 2,487,489

TACK DISPENSER Filed April 20, 1948 2 Shets-Sheet l U INVENTOR 59. g pz/ZpS/Oadef f2 4'? BY E A ORNEY Nov. 8,*1949 A, HY, SPADER 2,487,489

TACK DISPENSER Filed April 2o, 1948 sheets-swat s INVENTOR Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE TACK DISPENSER Arthur H. Spader, Bergeneld, N.` J.

Application April 20, 1948, Serial No. 22,091

6 Claims.

l The present invention relates generally to improvements in tack dispensers', and it has particular relation to a portable dispenser that may be attached to the wrist and used tosupply a continuous quantity of tacks in an aligned position, whereby the vforemost tack may :be readily picked up ,directly from the dispenser by the head of a magnetic hammer.

It is customary practice of operators using ylarge quantities oi tacks, ysuch as carpet layers, window decorators, sign posters, upholsters and the like, who frequently require the unrestricted use of both hands, to place a quantity of loose tacks in their mouths, turn the head-end of each tack withv their tongues and so position it that it can be picked up by the fingers `or by the end of a conventional magnetic hammer brought adjacent their parted lips. Such practices are dangerous and insanitary, as tacks are frequently swallowed, requiring surgical removal, and disease germs are being constantly brought into contact with the mouth.

"The present invention has been developed to obviate these aforementioned disadvantages, anjd provides ,a convenient portable tack dispenser.

Vthat can be strapped onto the wrist of the operator or otherwise affixed to his body. The dispenser 'holds a vquantity Iof tacks up to and including a complete box, and through movement of the wrist or vbody the dispenser is vibrated,

or Adirectly by the head oi a conventional magnetic hammer.

@ne object 'of the invention is to provide `a simple, durable and inea-pensive tack dispenser which will present ytacks in a lconvenient 'and advantageous manner for picking up with the head of a magnetic hammer without requiring assistl"ance fromthe operator.

Another object of the invention is `'the provision of an eicient and simple tilting device which will prevent .the tack ready to loe dispensed from becoming locked in the ydispenser Vunder the overlapping head hol .the next succeeding tack, .and which fis adjustable rfor facilitating the vdelivery of tacks of different sizes having fdifierent .lengths .of sharrks.

A :further Iobject .of the invention 'is to provide fa. removable V,tack 4aligning and distributing lplate, whereby the same may be removed and a smaller ici -fla-nger l,plate substituted "therefor, having slots commeasurate with the size of the head of the tacks to be dispensed therein.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention, which result in simplicity, economy and efficiency, will be apparent from the following detailed description'wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is shown, reference being had lfor illustrative purposes to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate y, like parts, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tack dispenser embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on a slightly larger scale, of the task dispenser shown `in'tigurr-r 1, the saine having been taken substantially along the line v"2--2 thereof, looking in the` direction of the arrows;

'Figure 3 is `a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line A3--3 of Figure 2 lookin in the .direction ofthe arrows;

AFigure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line fi-4 .of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure' is another lsectional view taken substantially' along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking thefdirection of the arrows;

`Figure `6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view ofthe tack tilting device shown in Figure 2, the same having `been taken substantially along the line 5-6 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows; andl Eigure '7 is another fragmentary horizontal sectional View of ythe tack tilting .device shown in Figure 2, the same *having been taken ysubstantially along the line 'Tl-il thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring -now to the drawings, and particularly -to AFigure l thereof, there is shown a tack .dis-penser '|30 mounted on a strap I2 or lother attaching device-for :securing the :same tothe body or wrist of an operator. The dispenser 'IU consists of a unitary closed receptacle 'having a relatively large and `rectangnlarly shaped lower chamber I4 and a yrela-tively small and substantially square `.shaped :upper chamber LI 6. `Theupper `chamber l 6 .is ,provided with a removable `top |18, which has ,downwardly ,projecting side flanges 20 that are ,provided with a ,suitable outwardly projecting r`groove22 adapted to snapover and removably lengage an ,outwardly `projecting ,rib l24 formed integrally in .the sides .2 thereof.

`The lower chamber 14 projects outwardly beyond lthe uppercham'ber ,|76 .adjacent one end, and Aa 'suitable cover plate or baffle 281s ymounted over opening therethrough. The dispensing opening is of a size sufcient to expose only the head of a single tack 32, whereby the withdrawal of tacks from the dispenser ID is restricted to one at a time. One end of the lower chamber I4 is provided with a suitable door 34, hinged, as indicated at 35, and having its free edge bent to provide a spring lock 36 for securing the same in its closed position under the lower edge of the end 38 of the upper chamber IB.

The sides 39 and 4U of the lower` chamber I4 are bent outwardly to provide opposing inwardly open channels or guideways 4'2 and 44 adjacent their top and immediately below the baffle plate 28. The guideways 42 and 44 are for receiving a removably mounted aligning plate 45 in spaced relation below said baffle plate 28. The tack receiving and aligning plate 46 extends over the entire top portion of the lower chamber I4, forming a division plate between the upper and lower chambers. The plate 46 is spaced high enough above the bottom 41 of the lower chamber to prevent the depending Shanks of the largest tacks to be dispensed therefrom from touching the same. The tack receiving and aligning Iplate 4t is provided with a series of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending apertures or slots 48. Each of the slots 4'8 is open at its -forward end and each connects with an obliquely extending feeding slot 50, which terminates under the dispensing opening 30 in the baille plate 28. The tack receiving and aligning plate 43 is mounted removably in the lower chamber I4 so that other plates of similar construction but having slots of different widths may be substituted therefor, depending upon the size of the head of the tack to be dispensed therefrom.

A suitable tack tilting device 5I is mounted below the feeding slot 50 and in substantially vertical alignment with the dispensing opening 3D. The tilting device consists of a U-shaped guard 52, having a forward edge 53 that is inclined slightly with respect to the vertical. The lower end of the forward edge 53 of the guard 52 is in substantially vertical alignment with the rear edge of the dispensing opening 3o, and the upper end is substantially in axial alignment with the dispensing opening 3B, as best shown in Figure 6. The guard 52 is mounted adjustably in a vertical slot 54 provided in the side 39 of the lower chamber I4 by means of a suitable pin or rivet 55. A leaf spring 58is mounted under the outer side of the rivet head 55, and its outwardly projecting ends are adapted to engage a series of vertically spaced corrugations 62, which serve to hold the tilting device in any set position.

The upper chamber I6 of the dispenser I8 has a pair of opposed angle iron supports 64 and 63 welded or otherwise secured intermediate its sides l to provide a suitable support for receiving and holding a conventional cardboard box of tacks 68 therein in spaced relation above said baille plate 28 and the tack receiving and aligning plate 46. The cardboard box of tacks B8 should have an opening 'I0 cut through the bottom thereof before being placed in the dispenser to permit its contents to gravitate therefrom upon any vibrating or jiggling movement of the dispenser I0.

In the operation of the dispenser I0, the cover I8 is removed and a conventional box of tacks E8, having a suitable opening 1D in its bottom, is placed in the upper chamber I4 on the laterally spaced supports 64 and 66. The top or cover I8 is now repositioned over the sides of the upper chamber I4 to keep the box of tacks in a fixed position therein. Of course, any quantity of loose tacks 32 may be dumped into the upper chamber I5 in the absence of a conventional box of tacks. The dispenser I0 may now be fastened to the wrist of an operator or otherwise mounted on his body.

The movement of the wrist or body of the operator will cause the dispenser to shake, jiggle or vibrate, thereby causing a number of tacks 32 to fall out of the box 68 onto the receiving plate 46 and eventually cause some of their shanks to drop downwardly through the slots 4'8 until they are suspended by their fiat heads on the top of said plate with their Shanks depending therebelow. As the dispenser IU is moved about or vibrated, some of the tacks held in an upright and suspended position in the slots 48 will have a tendency to work forwardly under the baiile plate 28 and into the feeding slot 53. The spacing between the underside of the baffle plate 2t and the top side of the receiving and aligning plate 4B is just sufficient to permit clearance of the flat tack heads, and there is little or no tendency or opportunity for the tacks once aligne-d and moved under the baffle plate 28 to return to the open mixing chamber I4. The vibratory motion or movement of the dispenser Il! causes the aligned tacks 32 to feed from the spaced parallel receiving and aligning slots 4t into the obliquely extending feeding slot 50 and forwardly towards the dispensing opening Sil. The heads of the aligned tacks 32 may have a tendency frequently to overlap, as best shown in Figure 2, and, if this occurs at the dispensing opening Sil, diiiiculty will be encountered "in dispensing the foremost tack since the head of the succeeding tack will prevent its withdrawal. To 'prevent such an occurrence, the tilting device 5I engages the depending end of the tack shank forwardly `of the dispensing opening, causing the tack 32 to be tilted forwardly, as best shown in 'Figure 6, thereby forcing the rear edge vof its at hea-d above the head of the next overlapping tack, thereby insuring freedom therefrom in its withdrawal from the dispenser I0.

The dispensing opening 38 is just slightly larger than the nat head of the largest tack to be dispensed, and prevents more than one tack being withdrawn from the same at a time. The hinged door 3S to the lower chamber I4 permits ready access to that part of the lower chamber below the receiving and aligning plate 4&5 to remove any defective tacks @il that might have fallen through the slots 48. It will be apparent from the above description that, with the employment of the dispenser I8, the operator has the full freedom of his hands, and can readily withdraw a taci; 32 therefrom by the head of a conventional magnetic hammer (not shown) without dropping what he is holding in tacking position. The operator is supplied with a limited continuous quantity of tacks in an eflicient and sanitary manner.

Although I have only described and 4illustrated in detail one form which the invention may assume, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the same is not so limited, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A tack dispenser comprising a closed receptacle separated into upper and lower chambers by a plate having a plurality of spaced parallel slots of a width to support a tack by its head with its shank projecting therethrough, said slots being in open communication at one end with a common feed slot, and a dispensing opening aligned with and spaced above said feed slot of a size sufficient to permit the withdrawal of a single tack at a time from said receptacle.

2. A tack dispenser comprising a closed receptacle separated by a plate mounted intermediate its sides into upper and llower chambers, said plate having a series of spaced tack receiving slots which are in' open communication along one end with a feed slot, a dispensing opening aligned with and spaced above said feed slot of a size sufficient to permit the withdrawal of a single tack at a time from said receptacle, and

a tilter mounted below said feed slot in substantial alignment with said dispensing opening for engaging the shank of the foremost tack in said feed slot to tilt the same whereby its head will be raised above the head of the next succeeding tack in the event it was overlapping the same.

3. A tack dispenser comprising a closed receptacle separated by a plate mounted intermediate its sides into upper and lower chambers, said plate having a series of spaced tack receiving slots which are in open communication along one end with a feed slot, a dispensing opening aligned with and spaced above said feed slot of a size suiiicient to permit the withdrawal of a single tack at a time from said receptacle, and an adjustable tilter mounted below said feed slot in substantial alignment with said dispensing opening for engaging the shank of the foremost tack in said feed slot to tilt the same whereby its head will be raised above the head of the next succeeding tack in the event it was overlapping the same.

4. A tack dispenser comprising a closed receptacle having upperand lower chambers, said lower chamber projecting outwardly beyond said upper chamber along one side thereof, a bale plate enclosing the outwardly projecting portion of the lower chamber and extending inwardly between said chambers to substantially the middle thereof, a readily removable slotted tack receiving and aligning plate mounted intermediate the sides of said lower chamber and below said baille plate, said aligning plate having a series of spaced slots adapted to support a plurality of tacks by their heads with their Shanks depending therethrough, said slots being open along one end into a common feed slot, a dispensing opening in the outwardly projecting portion of said baille plate, said opening being in alignment vertically with said feed slot, and a tilter mounted below said feed slot in substantial alignment with said dispensing opening adapted to engage the shank of a tack being moved therealong causing its head to be tilted forwardly 6 to disengage the head of the next succeeding tack if it should be overlapping.

5. A tack dispenser consisting of a closed receptacle having upper and lower chambers, said lower chamber projecting outwardly beyond said yupper chamber along at least one side thereof, a support intermediate the sides of said upper chamber for receiving a box of tacks, a baffle plate enclosing the outwardly projecting portion of the lower chamber and extending inwardly between said chambers, a readily removable tack receiving and aligning plate mounted intermediate the sides of said lower chamber and below said barie plate having a series of spaced tack receiving slots which are in open communication along one end with a feed slot, a dispensing opening aligned with and spaced above said feedslot of a size sumcient to permit the withdrawal of one tack at a time from said receptacle, and an adjustable tilter mounted below said leed slot in substantial alignment with said dispensing opening adapted to engage the shank of a tack being moved therealong causing its head to be tilted forwardly to disengage the head ofthe next succeeding tack if it should be overlapping.

6. A tack dispenser consisting of a closed receptacle having upper and lower chambers, means for opening said upper chamber to insert a box of tacks therein, means for opening said lowei chamber to remove defective tacks therefrom, said lower chamber projecting outwardly beyond said upper chamber along at least one side thereof, a support intermediate the sides of said upper chamber for receiving a box of tacks and supporting it above saidbaflie and slotted plates, a baliie plate enclosing the outv wardly projecting portion of the lower chamber and extending inwardly between said chambers, a readily removable tack receiving and aligning plate mounted intermediate the sides of said lower chamber and below said baiileplate having a series of spaced tack receiving slots which are in open communication along one end with a feed slot, a dispensing opening aligned with and spaced above said feed slot of a size sufficient to permit the withdrawal of one tack at a time fromsaid receptacle, and an adjustable tilter mounted below said feed slot in substantial alignment with said dispensing opening adapted to' engage the shank of a tack being moved therealong causing its head to be tilted forwardly to disengage the head of the next succeeding tack if it should be overlapping.

ARTHUR H. SPADER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 688,731 Hinds Dec. 10, 1901 1,199,641 Vogel Sept. 26, 1916 

